Picture Newspaper Office

• Picture Notes

  The offices of the local newspapers owned by Mr. J G Locks from about 1890 until he formed a limited Liability Company with himself and his four sons as Directors in the late 1920's. The chief newspapers were the Leytonstone Express and Independent with localised editions for the neighbouring towns, from West Ham and Forest Gate to Woodford. In later years, with Cyril Locks as Editor and all the original Directors actively working on the papers, the group was extended, with the formation of additional Limited Liability Companies, to include the Woodford Times and the Chigwell Times, Walthamstow Post, Chingford Express, Billericay Times and Wickford Times. A mid-week paper, The Eastern Mercury, was also published from these offices. Leyton Borough Council compulsorily acquired these offices for road widening and afterwards leased the site to F W Woolworth.
  
  From new offices built on the site of the Gaiety Cinema in Church Lane, Leytonstone, also owned by Mr. J G Locks and managed for some years in the 1920's by Leonard Locks, the newspaper group grew to include The Laindon Recorder, The Basildon Times and the Southend-on-Sea Times in Essex and the Middlesex Independent, the Marylebone Mercury, Paddington Mercury, Kensingtom Post, Willesden Citizen and the Chelsea Post.
  
  Cyril Locks retired as Editor in 1955, Leonard died in 1963 and Monnie (George Melbourne) died in 1964. Clifford was the only remaining director. He was joined on the board by Raymond Rowett, Roger Locks and Paul Locks. The Companies went into voluntary Liquidation a few years later and the copyright of all the papers was sold.
  
  Photo at top is the cinema ("The Gaiety") where Clifford Locks used to play the drums in the silent movies and sell ice creams in the interval.

• Technical Data

  Dimensions: 470x698 pixels  (0.32 MegaPixels in total) Size: 61KB 71dpi 24 bpp, source file: photos\1864 John George Locks\John George Locks office\office.jpg

• References (1)
  • Individual: John (DARNEY) George LOCKS